Article of lingerie in the general nature of a slip



ARTICLE OF LINGERIE IN THE GENERAL NATURE OF A SLIP Filed Aug. 18, 1954 Dec. 13, 1955 M. E. ELMORE 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR. ggg/mom Maf ATTORNEY.

Dec. 13, 1955 M. E. ELMORE 2,726,399

ARTICLE OF LINGERIE IN THE GENERAL NATURE OF A SLIP Filed Aug. 1s, 1954 2 sheets-snee: 2

IN V EN TOR.

Nagaef Imam, BY

MAM/0 ATTORNEY.

United States Patent O ARTICLE F LINGERIE IN THE GENERAL NATURE OF A SLIP Margaret E. Elmore, Snyder, N. Y.

Application August 18, 1954, Serial No. 450,687

1 Claim. (Cl. 273) This invention relates to an article of lingerie in the general nature of a slip.

A slip in accordance with the invention, while usefully available with any type of dress, including suits, has particularly advantageous utility in connection with dresses or evening gowns of the well known types designated as Empire and Princess Dresses or gowns of these types are generally characterized (1) by a skirt integrally combined with an upper portion which may be called a bodice portion and extends above the waistline and through or beyond the midriff area of the torso; (2) by the flaring outline of the skirt and the flaring outline of the bodice portion; and (3) as a matter of attractive 'appearance by a waistline area (front and back) which is relatively wide and uninterrupted both transversely and vertically.

The attractive appearance of dresses or evening gowns of the empire and princess types depends upon the conformity of the lit in the waistline area, about the hips and about the midrif area whereby the garment at the front and back will present a surface uninterrupted in any direction throughout the merging areas of the bodice or mid-l riff portion and the flaring skirt. In other words throughout the mentioned areas the dress should present a fitted appearance. However in wearing this type of dress one of the drawbacks, evident in many cases, is the presence yof wrinkles which, of course, defeat the very purpose of the design. Such wrinkles may result from the elfect of a girdle or, in the absence of a girdle, from what is colloquially known as the midri roll. The conventional slips are not only without eect in overcoming the objection but in fact are a cause in that, being made of extremely light fabric, they serve as linings only, are incapable of exercising a supporting and smoothing function in connection with the dress or gown and moreover tend to creep and get wrinkled or bunched, thereby producing wrinkles in the dress.

The object of the invention is to provide a-slip which will furnish support for the dress, particularly in the waistline and bodice area, of a character to maintain its smoothness and its normal tension and to yprevent the development of wrinkles. While the slip serves as a vsupport for the dress it does not serve, and is not intended to serve, as a support for the body. The age and natural figure of the individual determines whether lor nota girdle should be worn. In exercising its dress supporting function the slip may be used over a girdle or -used when a girdle is not worn and .in any event eliminates rthe occasion for use of a slip of ordinary design.

The slip in accordance with the invention is charac-terized by a body encircling or annular .series of connected continuous vertical panels of the same length and which extend to the same degree above and below the waistline. Above the waistline the panels provide a bodice portion coincident with the bodice portion of the dress and below the waistline a skirt portion coincident with the skirt portion of the dress, the bodice and skirt portions of the slip conforming generally in dimensions and outlinepto the bodice and skirt portionof the dress- The panelsarerof f'ice narrowest transverse dimension at the waistline and, as a series, are shaped above the waistline to provide the necessary flare of the bodice portion and below the waistline the necessary are of the skirt portion through an extent over or below the hips. The bodice portion extends through the midriff and has its upper edge just below the brassiere. The panels in adjoining relation are connected throughout their extent by seams lof usual form, i, e. lines of stitching, set back of edge portions of the panels which project from the inner side of the slip, the projecting edge portions being preferably severed at the waistline to eliminate any possibility of puckering. In order that the slip may serve its primary purpose of maintaining the smoothness and normal tension of the dress in the areas of the waistline, midriif and hips the fabric should not have any appreciable liability of being stretched laterally, i. e. circumferentially. The provision of the panels in suitable number and of suitable transverse dimensions and the connection of the adjoining panels by lines of stitching prevents any appreciable lateral stretching of the fabric, notwithstanding that it may intrinsically be stretched to some degree. 'Ihe front side of the slip which adjoins the dress presents a substantially smooth and even or uninterrupted area and since the construction of the slip in the manner generally described prevents substantial lateral stretching of the slip in those areas of the dress which are required to have a closely itted appearance the slip will uniformly support the dress and maintain it under normal tension whereby it will always present to view a series (annular) of smooth,'even and continuous surfaces above and below the waistline and at the front, back and sides of the dress. In order to insure against any collapse, or transverse wrinkling, of the bodice part, i. e., to maintain the bodice part vertically distended and suitably taut, stays of any suitable material extend from the upper edge of the bodice part, throughout its depth and preferably for a suitable distance below the waistline. Two stays secured at the back of the bodice part and adjacent the sides of the slip will be sufficient for this purpose, these stays being tted in sheaths provided in the usual manner at the inner side of the bodice part. The slip preferably includes a fabric lining element which underlies the bodice part, is co-extensive in area with the bodice part and is secured by stitching to the bodice part along its side edges and at its upper end. The stays are connected both to the bodice part and to the lining element and thereby prevent upward creeping or wrinkling of the lining element. The lining element assists in maintaining the bodice part free from transverse wrinkles and presents a smooth interior surface in relation to .the girdle or to the skin lin the event that a girdle be not worn. The lining element may be made in a number of sections stitched together along adjoining vertical edges.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of an Empire gown viewed from the front.

Figure 2 is a perspective view of an Empire gown viewed from the back.

Figures 3 and 4 are similar perspective views of a Princess dress.

Figure 5 is a front elevation of a slip in accordance with the invention and assumes the appearance of the slip as it is worn.

Figure 6 is a rear elevation thereof, based on the same assumption.

Figure 7 is a fragmentary side elevation showing a placket at one side of the slip, the placket extending from the upper edge of the bodice portion for a suitable distance into the skirt, this figure also showing a conventional fastening device having elements at each side of the placket.

Figure 8 is a fragmentary rear elevation showing the stays for maintaining the bodice part vertically distended and suitably taut, this figure assuming the appearance of the slip as it is worn.

Figure 9 is a fragmentary perspective view of the slip looking at its inner face with the lining of the bodice portion broken away to show the arrangement of the stays.

Figure is a horizontal sectional view in the plane 10-10 of Figure 5.

Figure l1 is a fragmentary elevation looking at the inner face of the slip and showing an alternative construction in which a section of elastic fabric is incorporated.

The slip is shown in Figures 5 and 6 and is constructed of an annular or body encircling series of panels 1 which are continuous from the upper and lower edges of the Slip, are of substantially the same length and are provided in any number suitable for the purposes in view. In the example shown there are eleven panels, six of which are shown in Figure. 5 and the remaining tive of which are shown in Figure 6. The panels in adjoining relation are connected by lines of stitching 2 extending from the upper edge of the slip to its lower edge. The slip as an entirety includes a downwardly ilaring skirt portion S and an upwardly flaring bodice portion B. The bodice portion B extends above what may be called the waistline to a line below the breasts or the brassiere and the skirt portion S extends from and below the waistline. The waistline is indicated at W, this line representing the circumferential plane of the body at which the waist measurement is taken. The panels extend in suitable and substantially similar degree above and below the waistline to provide the bodice portion and the skirt portion.

In the construction shown the panels below the waistline W are each preferably of downwardly flaring outline. As a series they are so relatively shaped that in connected relation they provide the flare of the skirt portion S through an extent at least conformable to the outline of the hips and buttocks. Above the waistline W the panels are each preferably of upwardly aring outline. As a series they are so relatively shaped that in connected relation they provide the appropriate flare of the bodice portion B. It will be understood however that the panels are not necessarily of uniform dimensions and are not necessarily all of flaring outline. What is essential is that the panels be severally shaped and dimensioned whereby as a series or a whole they produce the downwardly flaring outline of the skirt portion S through the necessary extent to conform to the outline of the hips and buttocks and the upwardly flaring outline of the bodice portion B and that they be continuous from the upper to the lower edge of the slip.

The lines of stitching 2 are, of course, parts of seams of well known form which include edge portions 3 adjacent the inner face of the slip. These are preferably flattened by pressing and along the waistline W are preferably severed as shown at 4 (Figure 9) the purpose of such severing being to eliminate any possibility of the slip puckering at the waistline. In other words the severed portions 4 coincident with the waistline W are functionally a mechanical demarcation of the connected panel parts of the bodice portion B from the corresponding connected panel parts of the skirt portion S.

The slip includes a continuous fabric lining element 5 (Figure 9) which underlies, and is substantially coextensive vertically and circumferentially with, the bodice portion B. The lining 5 is stitched along its upper edge to the upper edge of the bodice portion and has side edges which are also stitched to the bodice portion B. While the lining 5 may be an integral strip of material it is preferably made of a suitable number of sections stitched together along adjoining vertical edges in such a manner that it presents a; smooth substantially uninterrupted surface to the underlying girdle or to the skin if a girdle be not worn. The function of the lining 5 is to assist in maintaining the bodice portion B free from transverse wrinkles and to promote comfort in wearing the slip.

It will be noted that the slip does not require any supporting features such as shoulder straps. In other words since the slip, as above described, is tted, so to speak, to the body in the area which includes the rnidriff, the waist and the hips the body will furnish the required support. The bodice portion must, of course, at all times be maintained fully extended as shown in Figures 5 and 6, that is to say must be held against transverse wrinkling or collapse. For this purpose stays 6 are provided. Two stays, both arranged at the back of the slip, will be ample. These may be of any appropriate material such as whalebone or resilient metal or an appropriate plastic. They are preferably arranged adjacent the sides of the slip and extend continuously from the upper edge of the bodice portion for a short distance along the skirt portion. The stays are fitted in fabric sheaths 7 which are stitched through a suitable extent to adjacent panel parts of the bodice portion and to the lining element 5 and are also stitched to the corresponding panel parts of the skirt portion. The stitching which connects the sheaths 7 to adjacent panel parts of the bodice portion is reinforced by the lining element 5. The stitching which connects the sheaths 7 to the'corresponding panel parts of the skirt portion is preferably reinforced by an overlaid fabric section 8. The stays 6 in addition to holding the bodice portion against transverse wrinkling or collapse also hold the lining element 5 against transverse wrinkling, thereby insuring that the lining element will always present a smooth substantially uninterrupted surface.

For convenience in putting the slip on a placket 9 (Figure 7) is provided at one side and extends from the upper edge of the body portion for a suitable distance into the skirt portion. The edge portions of the placket carry suitable fastening elements, the most convenient fastening being of the well known zipper construction as shown as 10. The slip is put on over the head at which time the placket is fully opened, thereby to permit the slip at the waistline to pass freely, i. e. without any stretching of the material, over the shoulders and arms. When the slip has been properly positioned on the body the placket is closed.

The slip may be made of any suitable material which is sulciently light in weight and smooth in texture and which has a desirable permanent degree of stiffness. Examples of such materials are certain taffetas, nylons and the felted material sold under the trade name Pellon.

The prevention of appreciable lateral stretching of the fabric or material of the slip, as effected by the provision of the panels in suitable number and of suitable transverse dimensions, is important. It will be understood however that if desired the bodice portion as a whole may be constructed for a slight degree of stretching which does not involve the stretching of the fabric or material of the slip. This variation is shown in Figure 11 and involves the provision of a vertical slit or placket 11 of. suitable length in the bodice portion (and also in the lining element 5), extending from the upper edge thereof. The edge portions of the placket 11 are connected by a comparatively narrow section 12 of elastic fabric. It will be understood that the slips are made in sizes corresponding to different waist measurements. ln probably the majority of cases the bodice portion hugs the body, so to speak, having a close fit without dependence upon elastic fabric connections. In certain cases the elastic fabric connection 12 is of advantage in insuring a close t of the bodice portion upon the body.

I claim:

An article oflingerie inthe general nature of a slip comprising, in combination, a body encircling or annular series of continuous fabric panels of substantially equal length arranged vertically lengthwise and in adjoining relation connected by stitching, the panels being of an extent to project above and below the waistline and extending in substantially equal degree above and below the waistline, the panels above the waistline providing a bodice portion which as the slip is worn extends approximately to and terminates below the breasts and below the waistline providing a skirt portion of suitable length, the panels having their narrowest dimensions at the Waistlne and being so relatively shaped that the bodice portion has an upward flare conforming to the outline of the torso through the midrif area and the skirt portion has a downward liare which extends at least through the area of the hips and the buttocks, the panels being provided in such number that as connected in adjoining relation by the lines of stitching the lateral stretching of the fabric of the bodice portion is substantially prevented,

a continuous lining substantially co-extensive vertically and circumferentially with the bodice portion and having its upper edge stitched to the upper edge of the bodice portion and having side edges which are also stitched to the bodice portion, and vertical stays extending throughout the bodice portion and secured at the back thereof adjacent its inner face and also secured to the lining, the article having at one side thereof a vertical placket of suitable length which extends through the bodice portion and the lining from their upper edges and into the skirt portion, and releasable fastening means for securing the edges of the placket in adjoining relation.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,341,032 Freed et al Feb. 8, 1944 2,370,852 Espinolsa Mar. 6, 1945 2,601,679 Garnett July 1, 1952 

